Aug 6, 2015 — On the eve of Japan’s commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Defense Minister Nakatani Gen triggered a new row of controversy over the security legislation currently debated, when he said the bills would theoretically allow Japanese Self-Defense Forces to transport, repair or store nuclear, chemical and biological weapons for a foreign or multinational force.

“The letter of the legislation is not ruling out (this possibility). But we are not at all assuming something like that,” he told the Upper House of the Diet, highlighting Japan’s long-standing policy of not possessing, producing or letting others bring nuclear weapons into the country.

However, opposition lawmakers are emphasizing the fact that the three non-nuclear principles are not enshrined in law, and the security bills themselves do not include any such legal restrictions.

Japan defense chief says SDF could deal with nukes under security bills | The Japan Times

Under the ruling bloc’s security bills, the Self-Defense Forces would theoretically be allowed to transport, repair or store nuclear, chemical and biological weapons for a foreign or multinational force…